Baking and cooking gluten-free is easy when using a pre-mixed box of flours, but to truly make food that is gluten-free without noticing the difference is a bit more challenging. In this class Chef and Nutritionist Erika Renae will guide you through the hands-on process of making bread, savory crepes, pasta, cakes and more…

Good news! Portland’s own Kyra Bussanich of Crave Bake Shop has won Cupcake Wars on the Food Network. Kyra is pictured here with Kyra Sedgewick (on the right) and assistant Jackie Schonbrun (on the left). Our congratulations go out to her for the victory. Thanks also for helping raise awareness of gluten sensitivities and celiac disease. Here is the press release. Note that the show is scheduled to be rebroadcast, in case anyone out there wants to check it out.

The Challenge: Pastry chef Kyra Bussanich, owner of Crave Bake Shop Portland, OR the first baker from the Northwest—and first Gluten-Free pastry chef anywhere—to win Cupcake Wars, highly rated show on The Food Network. She competed on taste, texture and appearance against traditional bakers who had no restrictions on their ingredients.

What’s at stake: Chef Bussanich was the first ever gluten-free baker to compete on the show in December 2010. Though judges crowed about her baking, she came in 2nd place.
A year later, she was asked to compete again on the episode titled, “The Closer 100th Episode.” As the winner, selected from 4 bakers who had all previously competed, Bussanich catered a party celebrating the 100th episode of the hit TV show, The Closer, starring her namesake, actress Kyra Sedgewick.

Book and media appearances: Bussanich has appeared on several TV shows (in Portland and been interviewed in several newspapers and magazines and ezines (Oregonian, Gluten-Free Living). Bussanich is currently writing a book on gluten-free baking and lifestyle for Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Random House.

About Kyra: Portland native, lives in Lake Oswego. Graduated from University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. Then, after being diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder, she was forced to switch to a wheat- and gluten-free diet. Motivated to make high-end pastries that she could enjoy, Bussanich graduated with honors from the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie program in Portland. Disappointed with most of the gluten-free pastries and cakes available on the market, Bussanich began experimenting with alternative flours and developed recipes that matched her dietary needs without compromising any of the classic bakery tastes and textures.

We mentioned not too long ago that Crave Bake Shop, the makers of the best gluten-free cupcakes and desserts ever, finally opened a retail store. The bad news is that they’re all the way down in Lake Oswego. The good news is that you can go get the best gluten-free cupcakes ever. Here are photos from our visit.

We were actually delighted to find that there was a small line and that there were also people waiting for their orders to be completed. The person behind the counter was extremely friendly.

I snagged a quick shot behind the counter. They had a few items on hand, and were busy making other items while we were there. We got the distinct impression that it might be a good idea to call or email ahead if you want to order specific items. Kyra notified us that Wednesday is Angel Roll Day and Friday is Doughnut Day (with baked doughnuts!)

We got a scone, two snickerdoodle “shot” sized cupcakes, and two hot chocolate (something something we forget but they were AWESOME too) regular sized cupcakes. Here is part of their blurb about what they make:

Great news! Crave Bake Shop is opening a retail store in Lake Oswego. I know. I know. They should really be opening in NE Portland! That’s what I told them, too. Anyways, the grand opening is this Friday at 10:00 AM. Did we mention that Crave Bake Shop makes the best gluten-free cupcakes and cinnamon rolls ever? They do.

National and Local Recognition: Kyra Bussanich, pastry chef and founder of Crave Bake Shop, has been featured on the Food Network’s hit series “Cupcake Wars,” in the article “Coast to Coast Cupcakes” in Gluten-Free Living magazine, on numerous national and local gluten-free websites, several times in the Food section of “The Oregonian” (Portland), and more. They have fulfilled custom orders throughout the United States.

Bussanich is a graduate of Portland’s Le Cordon Bleu program in Patisserie and Baking. Previously, she ran Crave Bake Shop as a custom-order-only bakery.

More info: Visit CraveBakeShop.com or on Facebook, (Crave Bake Shop), or contact Jamie Hogland at CraveBakeShop@gmail.com or 503-260-7914

Here are some gluten-free events coming to Portland Oregon in the next few months:

May 7 – The Portland Metro GIG Gluten Free Fair

This is the 2011 incarnation of the annual Gluten-Free Fair to benefit the Portland Metro Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), Mid-Willamette Valley GIG of Salem and Gluten Free Friends of McMinnville. More detailed information can be found at this page on Grain Damaged. Every year they have booths set up where you can sample local (and not-so-local) gluten free goods, hob-nob with other gluten-free foodies, and enter drawings for awesome gluten-free gift baskets.

Where:
All Saints Catholic Church
3847 NE Glisan St. Portland Oregon
In the GYM

When:
Saturday, May 7th, 2011 – 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Entry Fee:
$5 per person, $10 per family (of two or more)

June 12 – Rudi’s Summer Road Trip BBQ in Lake Oswego

Rudi’s Gluten Free Bakery is doing a summer road trip and I’ve been helping them coordinate a GF BBQ on Sunday June 12th at Millenium Park in Lake Oswego. It is free and all ages and open to the public and there will be live music and lots of lunchy foods, like BBQ gf hotdogs and hamburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches etc (from them) and desserts (from me). And did I mention that it’s FREE? we’re finalizing the details, so I’ll be sure to get back to you, but it looks like the event will be from 11:30-1:30 PM on the 12th. Flyer to come!

Dr. Samantha Opt-In

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Dr. Samantha Brody is a licensed Naturopathic Physician and acupuncturist and the owner and founder of Evergreen Natural Health Center in Portland, Oregon. She is both a health educator and coach who can help introduce patients to new ways of caring for themselves. Read More…

This website is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for individualized medical or professional advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your personal physician regarding the applicability of any information on this site. Any information regarding restaurants, bakeries and facilities is supplied by purveyors and we make no guarantee of gluten-free status of any restaurant, any food at any restaurant, or any product mentioned anywhere on this website.